title: Prevalence and risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus colonization in individuals entering maximum-security prisons.
abstract: To assess the prevalence and risk factors for colonization with Staphylococcus aureus in inmates entering two maximum-security prisons in New York State, USA, inmates (N=830) were interviewed and anterior nares and oropharyngeal samples collected. Isolates were characterized using spa typing. Overall, 50·5% of women and 58·3% of men were colonized with S. aureus and 10·6% of women and 5·9% of men were colonized with MRSA at either or both body sites. Of MSSA isolates, the major subtypes were spa type 008 and 002. Overall, risk factors for S. aureus colonization varied by gender and were only found in women and included younger age, fair/poor self-reported general health, and longer length of prior incarceration. Prevalence of MRSA colonization was 8·2%, nearly 10 times greater than in the general population. Control of epidemic S. aureus in prisons should consider the constant introduction of strains by new inmates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: C T A
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Herzig
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Z L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Apa
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gage
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Koenigsmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Lowy
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires